Three police officers have been injured following an barricade incident in Penrith today.
About 5.25am this morning, police responded to a call regarding an alleged break and enter at a home in Dent Street, Penrith.
Officers from Nepean Police Area Command arrived on scene about 5.30am and came into contact with a man possessing an aerosol can and lighter, directing flames at the police.
“The man then barricaded himself in the premises, preventing police from gaining entry,” a Police spokesperson said.
“Further emergency services arrived at the scene as the man continued to behave erratically, threatening police with flames and attempted to set items on fire.
“The man has scaled his balcony to a neighbour’s premises before leaving the scene.”
Police ran after the 35-year-old man and he was arrested a short time later on Mulgoa Road, Penrith.
Three police officers suffered minor injuries after being exposed to the flames and during the struggle to arrest the man.
“One officer experienced sustained redness and swelling to his right arm, another sustained cuts and abrasions to his right hand and a third officer was punched in the chest,” the spokesperson said.
“The 35-year-old man attended hospital with injuries to his finger before being discharged into police custody.”
The man was charged with ‘assault police officer in execution of duty without actual bodily harm (x2)’, ‘assault police officer in execution of duty cause actual bodily harm (x2)’, ‘resist or hinder police officer in the execution of duty’ and ‘destroy or damage property’.
He was refused bail and is set to appear at Penrith Local Court today.
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